Officials: Gunfire Linked To Drug Deal

One Arrested On Weapon Charges

January 2, 2005|By Nancy L. OthM-sn Staff Writer

Drugs are connected to a robbery and brazen shootout in front of bystanders and the discovery of a dead man in one resident's driveway north of Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County sheriff's officials said Saturday, a day after the homicide.

As terrifying as it must have been to witness the exchange of gunfire on a normally quiet, family-friendly street, residents should be comforted to know that investigators are confident the victims of the robbery were targeted and that the motive appears to be drugs, sheriff's spokeswoman Diane Carhart said.

"We do not think this was a random act," Carhart said.

The first gunshots were reported about 5:20 p.m. Friday. By early Saturday morning, most deputies had left the crime scene that extended to parts of Windward Lane, Florida Drive and Hypoluxo Road just west of Congress Avenue, and one man had been arrested for shooting at the robbers. Later Saturday, detectives returned to serve a search warrant at the home where the robbery occurred in the 3100 block of Hypoluxo Road.

The name of man found shot dead in the passenger seat of a white Honda parked around the corner from the robbery has not been released pending the notification of relatives in Mexico, Carhart said. It's not clear whether the man was a suspect in the robbery, but his death is related to that crime, Carhart added.

Several people inside the Hypoluxo Road home were in the middle of some type of drug transaction when something went wrong, Carhart said. Two or three men then stole a 1995 red Chevrolet Suburban that belonged to one of the six or seven people already inside the home.

Mario Vargas, 26, who was inside the home, then grabbed a shotgun and ran toward another street near the back of his home where the SUV was headed, officials said. The driver of the SUV, not realizing Windward Lane was a dead end, had to turn around and Vargas shot at the vehicle, Carhart said.

"He did shoot several times at the fleeing vehicle, at which point he was shooting directly at a resident who was outside her home," Carhart said. "She had to duck and get out of the line of fire."

Vargas was charged with shooting at an occupied dwelling, improper exhibition of a firearm and engaging in a criminal offense. Christine Marianucci, who was fixing a manger that is part of her front yard Christmas display when a neighbor yelled at her to get inside, said Friday that the people inside the Suburban exchanged shots with the shotgun-wielding Vargas.

Alan Kaiser, who also lives on Windward Lane, was inside his home when he heard a gunshot and called 911. The next day, he pointed to areas of the street where technicians had marked evidence. One shotgun blast blew the windshield wiper off of the Suburban and pieces of it fell near his home, Kaiser said.

Despite the violent New Year's Eve, some residents tried to put it out of their minds and return to their activities, watching movies with family members or working on home improvements.

"We'll see what happens," Kaiser said.

Angela Burnos, who lives next door to where the robbery occurred, ended up dropping off her 17-year-old daughter at her mother's home Friday instead of letting her stay home alone on New Year's Eve.

Burnos, who has lived in her house since 1986, said her next-door neighbors have only lived there for several months.

"The curiosity is killing me," she said. "I hope everyone's OK. We couldn't get any information."

Another longtime resident, Jim Rozendal, shuddered to think that only one day earlier, his young granddaughters had been riding their new scooters and bicycles along the street.

"There are always kids playing out here on the street," Rozendal said. "We're very fortunate and blessed no one in the neighborhood was hurt."

The investigation continued Saturday. Detectives still must interview other people who were inside the home when the robbery occurred, Carhart said.

"It's still very complicated," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at 800-458-8477.

Nancy L. OthM-sn can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6633.